The Man Who Saw a Ghost: The Life and Work of Henry Fonda

by Devin McKinney Narrated by Joe Barrett

Overview

The first major biography of the iconic actor Henry Fonda-a story of stardom, manhood, and the American character

Henry Fonda's performances-in The Grapes of Wrath, Young Mr. Lincoln, The Lady Eve, 12 Angry Men, On Golden Pond-helped define “American” in the twentieth century. He worked with movie masters from Ford and Sturges to Hitchcock and Leone. He was a Broadway legend. He fought in World War II and was loved the world over. Yet much of his life was rage and struggle. Why did Fonda marry five times-tempestuously to actress Margaret Sullavan, tragically to heiress Frances Brokaw, mother of Jane and Peter? Was he a man of integrity, worthy of the heroes he played, or the harsh father his children describe, the iceman who went onstage hours after his wife killed herself? Why did suicide shadow his life and art? What memories troubled him so?

McKinney's Fonda is dark, complex, fascinating, and a product of glamour and acclaim, early losses, and Midwestern demons-a man haunted by what he'd seen and who he was.

Editorial Reviews

The Washington Post

…a detailed and often provocative account of Fonda's life and career…At his best…McKinney gives us fresh insights to draw on as we watch a Fonda performance.
—Charles Matthews

Publishers Weekly

McKinney (Magic Circle: The Beatles in Dream and History) follows Henry Fonda’s path from his Omaha origins to Hollywood heights. Throughout McKinney examines the contradictions in Fonda’s persona from all angles: “His ego has usually manifested itself as aloofness; now it is an animal thing—prowling the dark wood, savage, protective of its territory.” Film critiques probe the influence of various events on Fonda’s performances (such as the suicide of his wife Frances); McKinney views what he calls his “psychological biography” as an effort to capture “a broad, deep, comprehensible sense of Fonda, the essence of his life and the weight of his work.” Writing in the present tense, McKinney’s self-conscious style often distracts readers from his subject. His need to tinker with ordinary language produces some oddities; rather than write “TV set,” he substitutes “entertainment appliance.” Despite much evident research into Fonda’s tragedies and triumphs, in the end, McKinney undermines his own narrative with gimmicks. 14 b&w photos throughout; two 16-page b&w photos unseen by PW. (Oct.)

From the Publisher

McKinney offers a unique portrait of an actor who hid so much emotionally but trusted his audience to see what he couldn't show them.” —Associated Press

“In rich, lyrical prose, McKinney deftly honors both the man and the mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews

Library Journal

In this comprehensive study of Henry Fonda's life and work, McKinney (Magic Circles: The Beatles in Dream and History) reveals a solitary man thrust into the public eye by riveting films like The Grapes of Wrath, The Lady Eve, Mister Roberts, and 12 Angry Men. One of America's greatest actors, Fonda touched audiences even as he endured personal tensions and turmoil. Craving independence and immersed in the acting lifestyle, he found little comfort in family. He had five marriages and three children, Jane, Peter, and Amy, but his work always came first. In this biography of the actor, McKinney crafts a psychological account of a mysterious American icon. VERDICT Those interested in the intimate lives of the stars will appreciate the attention to detail and richness of research. Highly recommended for readers looking to complete their old Hollywood education. [See Prepub Alert, 5/1/12.]—Rochelle LeMaster, Medina Cty. Dist. Lib., OH

NOVEMBER 2012 - AudioFile

Fonda, the somber and complicated American actor, is portrayed in a dark and complex, yet strangely current, biography—the first major one available. Joe Barrett narrates in a direct and unadorned manner. The content is too often pedantic and sensational; for example, the author refers to Fonda’s “crack-up,” as opposed to “emotional breakdown.” While it’s all here—Fonda’s five marriages, strained relationships with his children, WWII contributions, as well as impressive acting credentials late in life—Barrett’s raspy, straightforward narration seems to emphasize the pedestrian text, which does not offer any serious insights. Fonda’s life deserves a better treatment of his struggling anguish, which made his Tom Joad in the film THE GRAPES OF WRATH impossible to forget. W.A.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

The story of a great American actor whose art was burnished by an anguished life. For McKinney (Magic Circles: The Beatles in Dream and History, 2003), Henry Fonda (1905–1982) is very much a mystery: an affable common man on screen whose piercing blue eyes suggested dark depths. It was a face of wisdom and pain, which is why no one else has ever played Abraham Lincoln with so much quiet conviction. Fonda knew suffering, and he was the cause of suffering in others. He saw death up close--as a youth in Nebraska (where he witnessed a mob take over a local jail and lynch a black man) and as a soldier in World War II and in the suicide of his wife, Frances, a wealthy heiress who finally wearied of the demands of being Mrs. Henry Fonda. (A third wife, Susan Blanchard, would also divorce him for "extreme mental cruelty.") Though well liked as an actor, he was chilly and distant as a husband and an apparent controlling terror to children Peter and Jane. He may not have liked himself that much either, as there were possible suicide attempts of his own. Through it all, Fonda greeted every struggle with either stoic Christian Science hardiness or dogged denial, plunging into work to keep from dealing with the domestic turmoil. The face said it all. No one ever had a problem believing him as an actor. "Fonda's fate all along, his curse and his cure, has been to become the thing that haunts him," writes the author in this excellent work of biography. In rich, lyrical prose, McKinney deftly honors both the man and the mystery.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169902037
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	10/02/2012
Edition description:	Unabridged

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